Children with Autism & Video Games – Research Study
Category : Blog , Video Games
Children with Autism & Video Games
This article shared by The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association involves a study which “…looked at parents’ attitudes regarding engagement with video games by their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
The Study’s Purpose & Findings
The study was conducted to determine if parental attitudes vary based on ASD symptom severity.
The study found no significant differences in the time, intensity, or types of games played based on severity of ASD symptoms (mild vs. moderate).
Parents of children with ASD expressed favorable attitudes about video game play, indicating that it was a positive experience for their children with ASD, particularly if the parent believed that the games were having a positive impact on his or her child’s development.
Furthermore, parents of children with ASD generally believed that positive behavioral outcomes were associated with video gaming in areas such as social skills, fine motor skills, language skills, reading and writing, and critical thinking. These beliefs were significantly related to the development of positive attitudes toward the use of video games. Further, parental support and positive perception of engagement with video games did not vary substantially based on the severity of their child’s ASD symptoms, whether their child was reported to experience mild or moderate forms of ASD. These findings appear to indicate that parents would be supportive of the use of video games in educational and therapeutic contexts.”
Overall the key factor was reported to be ‘positive impact’. So, if your child appears to experience a “negative impact” from playing video games, limit play time & find positive alternatives.
Our Message
Children’s Communication Center is able to work with you and your child with autism, with both low and high tech SLP tools, including video games.
As with all activities, monitor your child. Also remember, if a child lacks the skills for success, his behavior may be due to frustration with the game playing.
Contact us if you’d like more information.